The Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales is a member of the Court of Appeal appointed by the Lord Chief Justice to supervise the Presiding Judges for the various judicial circuits of England and Wales. The Senior Presiding Judge is responsible for deployment and personnel issues for all circuits and acts as a "general point of liaison" for the courts, judiciary and Government.
The post dates to the appointment in 1983 of Sir Tasker Watkins,[1] who remains the longest-serving holder of the office. The arrangement was put on a statutory footing with the enactment of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.[2][3]
Presiding Judges
In each circuit, there are two Presiding Judges appointed by the Lord Chief Justice to preside each of the six circuits in England and Wales, with the exception of the South-Eastern circuit which is supervised by the Lord Chief Justice and two High Court judges.[4] The judge is responsible for the deployment of the judiciary and allocation of cases and for the general supervision of the judiciary in the circuit.[5]
List of Senior Presiding Judges
Deputy Senior Presiding Judge
Following the enactment of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, increased duties for the Senior Presiding Judge prompted the Lord Chief Justice to appoint a deputy.[17] On four occasions the office has fallen vacant for 21 months or more. Each time was after the incumbent became Senior Presiding Judge.
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